Water base for furnaces



Feb. 14, 192s.

J. FARRIS WATER BASE Fon FURNAGES Fil zum

Patented Feb. 14, 1923,

JOSEPH FARRIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. .i

WATER BASE Fori FURNAcEs.

, Application led December 1, 1927. Serial No. 237,026.

My invention pertains to huinidifying or conditioning appliances for hot air furnace-s and similar structures and represents abetterment relative to the construct-ion presented in my earlier 'United States Patent No. 1.4101564, furnace constructions, granted March 28th,

As is Well known, houses heated by hot air require that a certain amount of moisture be supplied to the air to maintain it in suitable condition for performing its intended function.

The degree of dampness orrelative humidity depends upon several factors, such as the amount of Water surface exposed to the air, the temperature of the irater, the manner in which the air and water iapo :irc brought together, ctc,

Different conditions and the varying personal peculiarities of individuals require that the humidifying appliance of a hot air furnace should be subject to adjustment or control so that the particular demand for each installation may be satisfactorily niet.

l have found that it is desirable and convenient to he able to modify or change the temperature of the Water and t vary the ex tent of vater-surface exposed most directly to the heating influence of the furnace to control or govern the humid condition of the air delivered by the heater.

iltccordingly in the novel and improved moisture-sup nlying device of this patent, the Water unc er the ash-pit compartment of the furnace is subject to substantial changes in order to effect the required degree of humidity of the air, the other Water of the hnmidifying structure remaining unchanged and performing its customary function.

To enable those acquainted with or trained in this art to have a full and complete understanding of the invention, both from structural and functional standpoints, in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, I have illustrated a present desirable and preferred embodiment of the invention in detail and I have employed the same reference characters throughout the several views to designate lilre parts.

it will bc observed that the furnace aiiipliance includes a round, or other suitably-shaped, base-pen or tray having a bottoni Wall or floor 11 "and an upstanding border or marginal flange or rim 12, thus providii'ig a relatively shallow compartment or hase adapted and intended Y to accommodate soineof the humidii'ying water.

Such pan also has a rib 13 which, with that portion of the flange 12 between its ends and a central division rib 14E, provides tivo Water chambers 15 and 16 directly bc- .neath the bottom-wall or floor 17 of the ashpit chamber 18.

In order to provide for drainage of the three Water receptacles, the flange or rini 12 is supplied with suitably-positioned thread ed holes 19, 20, 21 and 22 therethrough which are normally closed by removable screw-threaded plugs 23, an)1 one or more of which may be taken out when it is de` sired or required to drain olf the liquid contents of the one or more ivater-containing :i

receptacles.

The npstanding rib 13 has similar threaded holes 2st and 25 near its ends or at any other convenient location which may or may not be closed or filled with the threaded plugs 26 and 27 respectively.

lVhen thus closed, the water poured into the outer pan through the one or more doorways 28 cannot find entrance into either of the compartments 15 and 16 so that the latter perform no substantial function in producing the humidifying conditions.

If, however, either one or hot-h of such plugs are removed, then Water flows into one or both of the chambers Where it becomes titl substantially healed by the heat of the overlying ash-pit member, such variable or adjustable amount oi' liquid surface exposed to such heat correspondingb7 increaeing;l the amount oli' moisture delivered to the air flowing through the furnace.

Either one or both of such inner chambers may be closed olf, by the use of the correspending plug, under which circumstances the hamlib-tying action of the appliance as a whole is conformably reduced.

When the Water in euch inner chamber er chambers is used, there is suiiicient air leakage around Such compartment or compartments to materialljvv increase or augment the amount of moisture delivered to the air.

The Water in such underlying chambers may be in actual Contact with the bottom 'tace oi' the ash-pit floor or its level may be beloiv such surface as circumstances may dictate.

From the `foregoing it Will be apparent that the action ot the furnace so far as air humiditying or conditioning requirements are concerned may be adjusted, modified, or varied by controlling the amount of Water under the ash-pit iioor so that any reasonable humidifying condition may be complied with.

The invention is not limited or restricted to the precise and exact details of structure presented and these may be modified Within comparatively Wide limits without departure from the heart and essence of the invention as defined by the appended claims and without the lose or sacrifice ot any et its substantial or material benefits or advantages.

I claim:

l. In a hot-air furnace, the combination oil a baseplate having an upstanding mar ginal fiange forming a pan adapted to eontain al supply of humidifying water, a rib on said plate conformingr approximately to the contour ot' the ash-pit iioor oi" the l'urw nace and forming a chamber beneath such 'licor adapted to contain humidi'lying vater, and means to open or close communica tion between said pan and chamber, whereby the latter may selectively be used or not used for humidii'ying purposce` in association with the Water in said pan.

2. In a hot-air furnace, the combination ot a base-plate having an upetanding marginal flange forming a pan adapted to contain a. supply of humidityinf; Water, a rib on said plate conforming approximately to the contour of the ash-pit floor of the tur nace and' forming a receptacle aleo adapted to hold humidifyingevater, a rib dividing Said receptacle into non-communicating parts, and means to open or close communication between said individual receptacle parts and Said pan, Wherebi7 either or both or neither of said receptacle parts may be used for humiditying purposes in association with the Water in Said pan.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto ,eet

my hand.

' JOSEPH FARRIS. 

